UK research-funded Doctoral Training Centres

Doing your research degree through a funded Doctoral Training Centre provides you with the structure to help you network with research students working in your field at partner universities. This enables you to benefit from expertise and facilities across the UK, and a supportive network of people at different stages of their research degrees who can give you advice and support. We also partner with charitable organisations to fund research opportunities.

UKRI recently announced that their funded studentships should be opened up to both home and international students from the 2021/22 academic year. Cranfield University has published its policy on UKRI international fees for research degrees.

SENSS (The South and East Network for Social Sciences) Doctoral Training Partnership

The South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is a consortium of 8 leading universities across the south and east of the UK promoting inventive and inclusive social science research training and collaboration.

Apply now

CENTA (The Central England NERC Training Alliance)



A consortium of universities and research institutes working together to provide excellence in doctoral research training. Research themes include: climate and environmental sustainability, organisms and ecosystems and dynamic earth.

Apply now


FoodBio Systems DTP

 

A consortium of six universities, as well as associate partners which include EIT Food, the British Nutrition Foundation, the Science and Technology Facilities Council Food Network+ and Diamond Light Source, working together to develop the next generation of highly skilled UK agrifood bioscientists with expertise spanning the entire food value chain.

Apply now


CTP-Fruit Crop Research

Fruit Crop Research logo

CTP-FCR (BBSRC, Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board [ADHB]) – Collaborative Training Partnership for Fruit Crop Research led by Berry Garden Growers Ltd and NIAB-EMR with Cranfield, Essex, Harper Adams, Lincoln, Nottingham and Reading.


Water-WISER

Water-WISER logo

A unique opportunity to contribute to the generation of new knowledge about sustainable water, sanitation and waste management services to improve infrastructure and services for the poorest and most marginalised members of our global community.

Apply now


WIRe (Water Infrastructure and Resilience)

WIRE logo 

Leading some of the UK's top universities to deliver inspirational training and research for a resilient water future.

Apply now


SWW DTP (South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership)

A consortium of nine universities and other organisations which provide studentships across six themes funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Apply now


Active – registration closed

REMS

REMS (Renewable Energy Marine Structures)

REMS logo REMS is an EPSRC-funded centre aiming to train 50 engineering doctorate and PhD students over an eight-year period. REMS leads research in the offshore renewable energy sector and is led by Cranfield in partnership with the University of Oxford and over 20 companies.

STREAM

STREAM (The Industrial Doctorate Centre for the Water Sector)

Stream IDC logo

STREAM is the industrial doctoral centre for the water sector, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and companies who sponsor research projects.

The STREAM programme is delivered by five UK academic centres of excellence in water science and engineering in the UK, coordinated by Cranfield University. The programme enables talented researchers to develop their skills and careers, while obtaining an engineering doctorate or PhD degree.

Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing

Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing

panel panel centre for sustainable materials

A unique collaboration between the Universities of Cranfield, Warwick and Exeter, working to address industry-driven research challenges around sustainability, while training the research engineers and entrepreneurs of the future.

Supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing training centre brings together diverse areas of expertise. It provides access to cutting-edge facilities from three leading universities as well as collaboration with industry in tackling today’s evolving issues and future challenges.

UP

UP (Centre for Doctoral Training in Ultra Precision Engineering)

2016 04 iStock FreeLicense UltraPrecsion Grey Teaser

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training Centre in Ultra Precision Engineering offers a master's-level taught course at Cranfield University or the University of Cambridge, with cross-centre teaching at both institutions. Students then progress to a full three-year PhD programme at Cranfield, Cambridge or another UK university through the National Centre Programme. This centre develops advance ultra precision products, technologies, production processes, innovation and business practices.

DREAM

DREAM (Data, Risk and Environmental Analytical Methods)

Dream Challenge

Cranfield leads the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge and Newcastle and over 20 informatics industry organisations in this centre. It will support 37 PhD students to undertake doctoral research, seizing the opportunities in ‘big data’ and analytics, designing and implementing effective risk mitigation strategies across the environmental sciences for academe, industry, NGOs and government.

STARS

STARS (Soils Training and Research Studentships)

STARS CDT 

Funded by NERC and BBSRC, the STARS Centre for Doctoral Training is a consortium of eight organizations, comprising four universities and four research institutes who are collaborating to offer training to PhD students in soil science.

Each year 11 or more students have been recruited to the STARS CDT and have the added benefit of cohort training in the STARS College, both face-to-face and online. They have access to internationally-renowned soil scientists and research facilities, as well as benefiting from the support of fellow students from across the country.

Composites Manufacture

Composites Manufacture

Enhanced composite structures

Focusing on composites manufacture in areas including aerospace, automotive, marine wind energy and construction, the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture aims to provide the UK composites manufacturing industry with research engineers equipped with the necessary advanced technical and leadership skills required for effective adoption of new knowledge and technologies in this field.

The IDC facilitates the EngD in Composites Manufacture, a four-year postgraduate research programme for researchers who aspire to key leadership positions in industry. Relevant industry areas include aerospace, automotive, marine, wind energy and construction.